Selective Licensing in Great Yarmouth Begins 1st April – What Landlords Need to Know

There is a major milestone for landlords in Great Yarmouth as the Selective Licensing Scheme officially launches on 1 April 2026. The scheme will run until 31 March 2031, covering private rented properties in Nelson Ward, Central and Northgate Ward, Southtown and Cobholm, plus selected streets in the North Ward. [home-safe.org.uk]

From 1st April all landlords operating properties in these areas must apply for a licence through Home Safe, the council’s delivery partner. It is an offence to operate a licensable property without submitting an application. [home-safe.org.uk]

Applications Open today! 1st April: What Great Yarmouth Landlords Must Do

Beginning today 1 April 2026, landlords can register and submit licence applications via the Home Safe platform. Agents must also be registered to appear on applications and were eligible to register from 1 March. [home-safe.org.uk]

The application process requires:

• Registration & identity verification

• Adding each property individually

• Uploading required certificates

• Paying the licence fee in two parts:

  • Part A: £200 at application

  • Part B: £494 within 7 days of invoice

Documentation requirements, identity checks, and application steps match the guidance in the official workshop slides provided at the beginning of this blog.

Updated Support Sessions & Workshops

One‑to‑One Application Support Sessions

• 1 June & 2 June 2026

• Rambouillet Room, Town Hall, GY

• 30‑minute bookable support sessions

• Assist with registering, adding properties, and completing applications [great-yarm...uth.gov.uk]

  
  

Additional Landlord Workshops

• 9 April 2026 – sessions at 3pm and 6pm

• Practical group guidance on applying and staying compliant

• 24 March workshop is fully booked [home-safe.org.uk]

  
  

Example Staged Payment Options for Portfolio Landlords (10+ Properties)

The council has confirmed that large portfolio landlords (10+ properties) may be considered for alternative payment arrangements where there is evidence of severe financial impact. This is assessed on a case‑by‑case basis using the same financial evidence requirements outlined in the council’s Civil Penalties Policy.

Minimum Evidence Required (if seeking annual licences or alternative payment structures)

Landlords must provide comprehensive financial documentation such as:

• Last 3 years’ full self‑assessment tax returns

• SA302s and tax year overviews

• Recent payslips, P60s, UC statements

• Full asset lists, Land Registry documents, ISA valuations

• Mortgage statements, bank statements over £5k balances

• Loan statements

• Shareholdings, crypto exchange balances

• Bankruptcy orders (if applicable)

This mirrors the evidence required when requesting reductions in civil penalties and ensures decisions are consistent, objective, and transparent.

Council's Staged Payment Offer for Portfolio Holders

As an alternative to annual licensing, the council has agreed it will consider the following staged approach for landlords with 10 or more properties:

1. Part A Payments (April–June 2026)

Landlords must:

• Submit all applications from 1 April–30 June 2026

• Pay all Part A fees (£200 per property) within this window

• Payments may be spread across the 3‑month period

  
  

2. Part B Payments (July–December 2026)

Landlords then have 6 months (1 July–31 December 2026) to pay each property’s Part B fee (£494).

Licences are issued as each Part B payment is received.

Additional Evidence Required for Staged Payments

To use this staged schedule, landlords must provide:

• A list of residential rental properties within the designation area with proof of ownership

• A letter from a certified accountant confirming financial limitations and need for staged payments

• A proposed payment structure fitting the council’s criteria

  
  

Example of an Accepted Staged Payment Plan

Below is the real payment plan example you provided, now integrated into the blog:

Example Payment Plan for 12‑Property Portfolio

Month	Payment	Breakdown
April	£1,000	5 × Part A
May	£1,000	5 × Part A
June	£894	2 × Part A + 1 × Part B
July	£988	2 × Part B
August	£988	2 × Part B
September	£988	2 × Part B
October	£988	2 × Part B
November	£988	2 × Part B
December	£494	1 × Part B

This structure completes all payments by the council deadline of 31 December 2026 while keeping monthly costs predictable.

After You Apply

Once your application is submitted:

• A draft licence is issued electronically

• The Part B invoice arrives at the same time

• Full licences are issued after payment and cooling‑off periods (usually within 2 months)

• Certificates must be kept updated throughout the scheme duration

• Agent changes can be managed via the dashboard

These steps match the official Home Safe guidance and workshop material.

Final Thoughts

With the scheme going live today, landlords should:

• Prepare documents today

• Register early

• Consider whether staged payment options apply

• Book workshops or support sessions if needed